A Garston man has been left disappointed after missing out on the start of a Harry Hill show at the Watford Colosseum this week after venue organisers failed to inform customers of a time change.

After booking tickets with his brother six months ago, Paul Mathews wasn’t expecting to turn up half an hour late for the Wednesday evening stand up comedy he thought was scheduled for an 8pm start.

Mr Mathews says the first half of The Sausage Time show was spoiled because organisers at the Watford Colosseum had failed to inform people who had brought their tickets through Ticketmaster, there would be an earlier start of 7.30pm.

The 40-year-old said: "One of Harry Hill’s catch phrases is 'What are the chances of that happening?' And I think this is very fitting.

"I booked my tickets on the first day of sale six months ago and you would think that is enough time for people to be organised. It is something really simple that the Watford Colosseum should not be getting wrong.

"Me and my brother, Simon, were initially told we wouldn't be able to take our seats until the interval and would have to stand at the side like naughty school boys in an assembly.

"However in the end we decided to find our seats and had to push past other people with our coats on, in the dark tripping over people’s legs until we found them."

When realising the mistake, venue organisers postponed the start of the show until 7.50pm. However Mr Mathews said this was not good enough.

He said: "It may have started later but if they realised they had informed some customers of a wrong start time, they should have pushed it back more than just 20 minutes to wait for us to arrive.

"You don’t really expect this from such a great venue and it is disappointing because the first half of the show was spoiled.

"It’s a shame because we won’t get another opportunity to go and see Harry Hill again."

Mr Mathews paid £33.50 for his ticket and said he will be contacting the venue to demand a part refund.

The venue director and duty manager have denied Mr Mathews was advised to wait until the interval to be seated and said audience members who turned up after 7.50pm were seated immediately by duty managers and ushers.

Jeanette Larkin, spokesman from the Watford Colosseum said: "Unfortunately the Colosseum mistakenly informed Ticketmaster that the show start time was 8pm instead of 7.30pm.

"As this mistake was only discovered on the night of the show we were unable to contact Ticketmaster customers to inform them of the earlier start time.

"On the evening, Harry Hill and his tour manager kindly agreed to postpone the start of the show for 20 minutes, by which time almost all the audience had arrived and been seated."

What is it with people running crying to the press with this nonsense?

Has society been mollycoddled so much, that we cannot handle a wee bit of disappointment? (which i think the modern day term is "outrage" or "fury")

Heaven help these people when a real drama comes knocking on their door lol.

What is it with people running crying to the press with this nonsense?
Has society been mollycoddled so much, that we cannot handle a wee bit of disappointment? (which i think the modern day term is "outrage" or "fury")
Heaven help these people when a real drama comes knocking on their door lol.theturpster

This is an outrage I tell ya ... a complete disgrace. I'm not having this, I'm going to my MP and ask that he raises it in parliament. I will not rest until Harry apologises and gives me the £2.58p he owes me for missing his first few gags

In other news, I snoozed my alarm twice this morning so hit a bit more traffic on the M25 ... someone contact Sky News!

This is an outrage I tell ya ... a complete disgrace. I'm not having this, I'm going to my MP and ask that he raises it in parliament. I will not rest until Harry apologises and gives me the £2.58p he owes me for missing his first few gags
In other news, I snoozed my alarm twice this morning so hit a bit more traffic on the M25 ... someone contact Sky News!barnet123

No need for the personal remarks, and whilst I agree not exactly news worthy at least its a valid complaint unlike so many other similar stories the WO likes to print when the instigator is just trying to pass the buck for their own failings.

Hope you get your refund

No need for the personal remarks, and whilst I agree not exactly news worthy at least its a valid complaint unlike so many other similar stories the WO likes to print when the instigator is just trying to pass the buck for their own failings.
Hope you get your refundgarston tony

The story is currently the 4th most read on the website, and is therefore being read more than a lot of other stories on the website - JOB DONE BY REBECCA PERRING AT THE WATFORD OBSERVER.

It's all really rather embarrassing for the Colosseum (who still seem somewhat in denial), and it sounds like the ticketing was pretty shambolic for such a major event. If that's not news for a local paper, I don't know what is.

As someone who works in the media, and deals with journalists on a daily basis, let me explain what makes a news story for a local paper:
- local angle - CHECK
- recent event - CHECK
- event/problem/issue, ideally involving conflict between two parties - CHECK
- if possible, a celebrity angle - CHECK
- some good quotes - CHECK
- a good photo - CHECK
The story is currently the 4th most read on the website, and is therefore being read more than a lot of other stories on the website - JOB DONE BY REBECCA PERRING AT THE WATFORD OBSERVER.
It's all really rather embarrassing for the Colosseum (who still seem somewhat in denial), and it sounds like the ticketing was pretty shambolic for such a major event. If that's not news for a local paper, I don't know what is.TaylorMadeArmy

He only missed Harry Hill dragging a mattrass from outside into the arena. Also there was a lot of Harry Hill jumping up and down on the same mattress.

Ohhh and of course it gave Mr Hill the opportunity to poke fun at the latecomers.

Cracking show - Colessuem should give tickets to Mr Mathews and his family to see a similar show foc. ( I believe Roy Chubby Brown is appearing there soon)...

He only missed Harry Hill dragging a mattrass from outside into the arena. Also there was a lot of Harry Hill jumping up and down on the same mattress.
Ohhh and of course it gave Mr Hill the opportunity to poke fun at the latecomers.
Cracking show - Colessuem should give tickets to Mr Mathews and his family to see a similar show foc. ( I believe Roy Chubby Brown is appearing there soon)...wiseoldornet

Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next time

Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next timejasonwatford

jasonwatford wrote:
Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next time

Having had to get to shows after a day at work myself I know from experience its not always possible to get there much earlier than the start time. Your comment is based on ideal world beliefs, not real world reality

[quote][p][bold]jasonwatford[/bold] wrote:
Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next time[/p][/quote]Having had to get to shows after a day at work myself I know from experience its not always possible to get there much earlier than the start time. Your comment is based on ideal world beliefs, not real world realitygarston tony

jasonwatford wrote:
Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next time

I take your point. But, in my experience, people arrive just before curtain up, or kick-off, because they don't want to be ripped off for a limited range of over-priced drinks in plastic glasses. Or maybe they are coming straight from work?

I know plenty of people arrive just before kick-off at Vicarage Road. And if it says 3pm on your Watford FC match ticket, that's when it starts. End of story.

I'd be interested to see if the Colosseum - who've acknowledged it was their fault - actually make this good.

After all, you can't be a big venue if you treat customers like little people.

[quote][p][bold]jasonwatford[/bold] wrote:
Why do people turn up for a show when it is about to start ? surely for a 8pm start you would turn up at 7.30 ??? Some people then wanna talk about it in the papers....Just get there in time next time[/p][/quote]I take your point. But, in my experience, people arrive just before curtain up, or kick-off, because they don't want to be ripped off for a limited range of over-priced drinks in plastic glasses. Or maybe they are coming straight from work?
I know plenty of people arrive just before kick-off at Vicarage Road. And if it says 3pm on your Watford FC match ticket, that's when it starts. End of story.
I'd be interested to see if the Colosseum - who've acknowledged it was their fault - actually make this good.
After all, you can't be a big venue if you treat customers like little people.TaylorMadeArmy